# US 10,117,489 B2 · Kit for illuminating the hair of a user and associated method

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- Number: US 10,117,489 B2
- Document ID: US10117489B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/527,468
- Filed: 2015-11-16
- Published: 2017-12-14
- Granted: 2018-11-06
- Earliest claimed: 2014-11-18
- Assignees: L'oreal
- Applicants: L'oreal
- Inventors: Steven Perkins; Xavier Schultze
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10117489B2

## CPC

- A45D 8/24: Hair clasps, i.e. multi-part clasps with pivotal connection of parts at their ends
- A45D 8/20: Hair clamps, i.e. elastic multi-part clamps, the parts of which are pivotally connected between their ends
- A45D 8/34: Hair-braid holders; Hair-plait holders
- A45D 8/36: Hair straps; Hair rings
- F21K 9/61: using light guides
- F21K 9/64: using wavelength conversion means distinct or spaced from the light-generating element, e.g. a remote phosphor layer
- F21V 33/0008: {Clothing or clothing accessories, e.g. scarfs, gloves or belts}
- G02B 6/0003: {the light guides being doped with fluorescent agents}
- G02B 6/001: {the light being emitted along at least a portion of the lateral surface of the fibre}
- A45D 8/004: {with decorative arrangements or form}
- F21W 2121/06: for personal wear
- F21Y 2115/10: Light-emitting diodes [LED]
- A45D: HAIRDRESSING OR SHAVING EQUIPMENT (wigs, toupees or the like A41G3/00, A41G5/00; hairdressers' chairs A47C1/04; hair cutting appliances, razors B26B); EQUIPMENT FOR COSMETICS OR COSMETIC TREATMENTS, e.g. FOR MANICURING OR PEDICURING
- F21K: NON-ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES USING LUMINESCENCE; LIGHT SOURCES USING ELECTROCHEMILUMINESCENCE; LIGHT SOURCES USING CHARGES OF COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL; LIGHT SOURCES USING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES AS LIGHT-GENERATING ELEMENTS; LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- F21W: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO USES OR APPLICATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS
- F21Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED

## Abstract

A kit for illuminating the hair of a user, comprises: at least one light emitting diode emitting light at a wavelength, an optical fiber (26) coupled to the or each light emitting diode, a fastening element (22) to fasten the or each light emitting diode and/or the optical fiber to the hair of a user, The kit comprises a fluorescent material (30), the optical fiber (26) being configured to transmit the light emitted by the or each light emitting diode to the fluorescent material (30), the fluorescent material (30) being excited at the wavelength of the or each light emitting diode.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A kit for illuminating the hair of a user, comprising:
at least one light emitting diode emitting light at a wavelength (λl),
an optical fiber coupled to the or each light emitting diode,
a fastening element to fasten the or each light emitting diode and/or the optical fiber to the hair of a user,
characterized in that the kit comprises a fluorescent material, the optical fiber being configured to transmit the light emitted by the or each light emitting diode to the fluorescent material, the fluorescent material being excited at the wavelength (λl) of the or each light emitting diode, and wherein the fluorescent material is arranged inside the optical fiber and/or is placed in a cosmetic composition intended to be applied on hair.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The kit according to claim 1, wherein the fluorescent material is arranged inside the optical fiber.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The kit according to claim 1, wherein the fluorescent material is placed in a cosmetic composition intended to be applied on hair.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The kit according to claim 1, wherein a sample of external hair is permanently secured to the fastening element, the fluorescent material being located on the sample of external hair.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The kit according to claim 3, wherein the optical fiber is a lossy fiber emitting light coming from the or each light emitting diode at least along a longitudinal segment of the optical fiber.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The kit according to claim 1, wherein the or each light emitting diode is a microled.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The kit according to claim 1, wherein the or each light emitting diode has a diameter inferior to 30 μm.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The kit according to claim 1, wherein the maximum operating power of the or each light emitting diode is lower than 5 mW.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The kit according to claim 1, wherein the wavelength (λl) of the light emitted by the or each light emitting diode is in a range between 315 nm and 420 nm.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The kit according to claim 1, wherein the fluorescent material comprises at least one fluorophore able to be excited at the wavelength (λl) of the or each light emitting diode, the light emitted by each excited fluorophore having a wavelength (λf) in the visible range.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The kit according to claim 10, wherein the fluorescent material comprises at least a first fluorophore and a second fluorophore emitting light at different wavelengths (λf).

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The kit according to claim 1, comprising a power supply device for supplying the or each light emitting diode, the power supply device comprising a film battery or an inductive power source.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

A method for illuminating the hair of a user comprising the steps of:
providing a kit according to claim 1,
fastening the or each light emitting diode and/or the optical fiber to the hair of a user with the fastening element,
powering the or each light emitting diode and transmitting the light emitted by the or each light emitting diode with the optical fiber, and
exciting the fluorescent material with the light emitted by the or each light emitted diode and transmitted by the optical fiber.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method according to claim 13, wherein the fluorescent material is placed in a cosmetic composition intended to be applied on hair, the method comprising a step of applying the cosmetic composition on the hair of the user.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The method according to claim 13, wherein the kit comprises a sample of external hair permanently attached to the fastening element, the method comprising a step of securing the sample of external hair within the hair of the user.

### Claim 16 (depends on 2)

The kit according to claim 2, wherein the fluorescent material is placed in a cosmetic composition intended to be applied on hair.

### Claim 17 (depends on 2)

The kit according to claim 2, wherein a sample of external hair is permanently secured to the fastening element, the fluorescent material being located on the sample of external hair.

### Claim 18 (depends on 3)

The kit according to claim 3, wherein a sample of external hair is permanently secured to the fastening element, the fluorescent material being located on the sample of external hair.

### Claim 19 (depends on 4)

The kit according to claim 4, wherein the optical fiber is a lossy fiber emitting light coming from the or each light emitting diode at least along a longitudinal segment of the optical fiber.

### Claim 20 (depends on 3)

The kit according to claim 3, wherein the optical fiber is a lossy fiber emitting light coming from the or each light emitting diode along the entire length of the optical fiber.